This was published 11 years ago
Basketball referee knocked out
Quinn Jones
A basketball referee delayed the start of a US college match after being knocked unconscious by a stray elbow at the opening tip off.
Official Rick Crawford had only just thrown the ball to start the match between the Vanderbilt Commodores and La Salle Explorers when he was sent sprawling to the floor.
Footage shows Crawford turn his head away from the opening contest, but was still somehow collected by the elbow of Commodores centre Damian Jones.
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The stricken referee immediately collapses with his fellow officials calling time on the game as they race to his side.
Crawford was later stretchered from the game and taken to Brooklyn Hospital.
Once the game was resumed, Vanderbilt held off a second-half comeback to win 68-55.
